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The future of finance starts with turning technology into business value

See how Australian finance leaders are connecting AI, data, security and transformation initiatives to improve performance, resilience and decision-making.

9 min read

Australian finance leaders are navigating economic uncertainty, rising expectations from boards and executives, and a growing need to demonstrate measurable value from technology investments. While AI adoption is becoming increasingly common, many organisations are still determining how to scale its use, measure returns and integrate it into broader business strategy.

Protiviti's 2026 Global Finance Trends Report reveals how Australian finance organisations are moving beyond experimentation and focusing on turning technology investments into measurable business outcomes. The findings show that organisations achieving the greatest value are taking a balanced approach, combining AI, automation, analytics, data governance and finance transformation to strengthen performance and resilience.

At a glance:

  • Nearly three-quarters of Australian finance organisations are using AI, yet only a small proportion have implemented it through a defined strategy
  • Security and privacy of data remain the highest priority for Australian finance leaders, alongside analytics, broader data utilisation and AI
  • More than 80% of organisations have formal methodologies for measuring technology investments, yet many finance leaders remain only somewhat or moderately effective at measuring AI ROI
  • Automation, analytics, process transformation and technology rationalisation are delivering stronger efficiency and cost optimisation benefits than AI alone
  • Economic and trade uncertainty is increasing the focus on forecasting, scenario planning, cash management and data-driven decision-making

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The technology story for finance organisations is not just about AI.

About the research

Protiviti surveyed 902 finance executives worldwide, including CFOs, vice presidents of finance and other senior finance leaders across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Respondents represented organisations of varying sizes and industries, including financial services, energy and utilities, healthcare, manufacturing, technology and consumer products.

Survey respondents by region:

38 %

North America

35 %

Europe

27 %

Asia-Pacific

Where finance leaders are synchronising initiatives

Finance leaders cite three primary areas of focus:

Key findings

The priorities finance leaders are working to synchronise:

Key themes

AI Is part of a bigger transformation story

Moving beyond adoption to business value

AI adoption continues to grow, but strategy remains a work in progress. While the vast majority of finance organisations are employing AI, only 14% of this group have a defined AI strategy. Most organisations are focused on applying AI to forecasting, risk management and process automation rather than broader transformation.

Action for finance leaders:

Integrate AI with automation, analytics and modernisation initiatives to accelerate measurable business value.

Building trust in a digital finance environment

Data security and privacy remains finance's top priority for the third consecutive year, ranking ahead of financial planning, analytics and process improvement. As organisations increase their use of AI and data-driven technologies, governance is becoming foundational to transformation.

Action for finance leaders:

Strengthen governance and data management practices to support innovation with confidence.

Connecting technology investments to outcomes

Organisations continue to adopt AI faster than they can measure it. Finance leaders report greater effectiveness measuring the ROI of broader transformation initiatives than AI-specific investments, highlighting a growing need for stronger value measurement disciplines.

Action for finance leaders:

Define AI success metrics early and connect technology investments to business outcomes.

Driving efficiencies through modernisation

Automation, technology rationalisation and cloud-based systems are generating the strongest cost optimisation gains. While AI is delivering value, finance organisations continue to realise the greatest benefits from proven technologies that improve efficiency, visibility and operational performance.

Action for finance leaders:

Balance AI investments with modernisation initiatives that deliver measurable results today.

Navigating uncertainty with confidence

Cash management remains the finance area receiving the greatest attention amid ongoing economic, monetary and trade policy uncertainty. Finance leaders are increasing their focus on forecasting, planning and liquidity management to strengthen organisational resilience.

Action for finance leaders:

Enhance forecasting and scenario planning capabilities to improve agility in a changing environment.

Aligning priorities across the enterprise

Today's CFO is expected to balance technology investments, operational priorities, governance requirements and business strategy. Success increasingly depends on the ability to synchronise people, processes and investments around shared organisational goals.

Action for finance leaders:

Connect finance, technology and business priorities to drive enterprise-wide value creation.

Why synchronisation is essential for today's CFO

Watch a Protiviti's Chris Wright highlight the key takeaway from this year’s Global Finance Trends Survey and explain why CFOs must synchronise their priorities. He explores the connection between rising AI adoption and increasing cybersecurity risks, highlighting why an integrated approach is essential for finance leaders seeking to drive value and resilience.

Watch time: 2 mins

Key finance trends shaping CFO priorities

Protiviti Managing Directors Chris Wright and Shawn Seasongood examine the key findings from Protiviti’s 2026 Global Finance Trends Survey, Synchronise. In this discussion, they explore the competing priorities facing today’s CFOs, including AI adoption, ROI, business transformation, data governance and privacy, and evolving economic, monetary and trade policies.

Watch Time: 16:46 minutes

The AI journey: where finance leaders stand today

AI has become a top priority for finance leaders. In this video, Protiviti’s Shawn Seasongood explores what this year’s Global Finance Trends Survey reveals about AI maturity across organisations and how finance teams are putting the technology into practice.

Watch time: 1:59 mins

Cybersecurity in the age of AI: the CFO's new risk imperative

AI is raising the stakes for cybersecurity as organisations accelerate digital transformation, cloud adoption and automation. Watch Protiviti's Nick McKeehan and Mike Monday discuss how leading organisations are scaling AI securely, strengthening governance and managing emerging risks. Learn what separates confident AI adopters from their peers and why collaboration across the business is critical to unlocking AI's full value.

Watch time: 2:34 mins

The Future of FP&A: Turning Data into Decisive Action

AI is transforming how finance teams forecast, plan and make decisions. Watch Protiviti's Will Thomas and Kerry Buchar discuss how AI, rolling forecasts and scenario planning are helping CFOs build more agile, data-driven finance functions. Discover why leading organizations are moving beyond annual budgets. Plus, learn how finance teams can turn AI investments into smarter decisions.

Watch time: 2:47 mins

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FAQs

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What are the top finance trends for 2026?

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Protiviti's 2026 Global Finance Trends Report identifies five priorities shaping the CFO’s agenda: AI adoption, security and privacy, business transformation, cost optimisation and cash management. Together, these trends show that finance leaders are balancing innovation with resilience in an increasingly uncertain environment.

What are the key findings from Protiviti's 2026 Global Finance Trends Report?

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The survey reveals that leading finance organisations create more value by aligning technology, data, governance and business strategy. While AI adoption continues to grow, organisations are seeing the strongest measurable business outcomes from foundational investments in automation, analytics and modernisation.

What does "synchronisation" mean in Protiviti's Finance Trends Report?

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Synchronisation refers to connecting AI, automation and analytics with governance, planning and business strategy to improve performance, agility and decision-making. Organisations that connect these priorities are better positioned to improve performance, strengthen resilience and create measurable business value.

How are finance organisations adopting AI?

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According to Protiviti's research, 77% of finance organisations are using AI, yet only 14% of this group have a defined AI strategy. The findings suggest finance organisations are moving quickly to adopt AI but are still developing the governance and strategic alignment needed to realise its full value.

Why are security and privacy still finance's top priority?

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Security and privacy have remained finance's top priority for three consecutive years. As organisations expand their use of AI, analytics and cloud technologies, strong governance and data protection are essential to managing risk and enabling transformation.

Which technologies are delivering the greatest business value?

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The report found that automation, advanced analytics, cloud-based platforms and technology rationalisation are currently delivering the strongest cost optimisation and efficiency benefits. These technologies continue to improve efficiency while creating a stronger foundation for AI adoption.

How is economic uncertainty changing finance priorities?

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Economic and policy uncertainty is increasing the focus on liquidity and resilience. Eighty-three percent of CFOs rank cash management among their top priorities as they strengthen forecasting and prepare for changing market conditions.

Who should read the Global Finance Trends Report?

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The report is designed for CFOs, finance executives, controllers, FP&A leaders and transformation teams. It features insights from 902 finance leaders across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific to help organisations benchmark priorities and plan for the future of finance.

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